Home › Alabama › Rules of Juvenile Procedure › Rule 26

Rule 26 Court costs.

← Previous Rule 25: Findings and orders. Next → Rule 27: Modification. [Rescinded.]

Rule Text

(A) The prepayment of fees and costs, except for certified mail fees, is not required in cases within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, except in the following:

(1) All CS cases;

(2) Petitions to modify orders issued in dependency cases;

(3) Child-in-need-of-supervision cases alleging that a child is beyond the control of his or her parent or parents, legal guardian, or legal custodian; and

(4) Proceedings seeking the removal of the disabilities of nonage.

(B) In cases where prepayment of fees and costs is required, if a party files an affidavit of substantial hardship that is granted by the juvenile court or if a governmental entity files the action, the prepayment of fees and costs is waived. In cases in which the prepayment of fees and costs is not required or is waived, the fees and costs may be taxed at the conclusion of the cases.

(D) Uncollected court costs may not be assessed as charges against the county.

[Amended 11-9-76; eff. 1-16-77; Amended eff. 5-1-94; Amended 7-14-2011, eff. 10- 1-2011; Amended 5-1-2014, eff. 7-1-2014.]

Plain-English Summary (for reference only — not a substitute for the rule text above)

This summary is not the rule. The rule text controls.

In most juvenile court cases, people don't have to pay filing fees or court costs upfront. This means families can get help from the court without worrying about paying money first. The main exception is that certified mail fees must still be paid ahead of time in all cases.

There are a few types of cases where you do have to pay costs upfront. These include child support cases, requests to change an existing dependency order, cases where a child is accused of being out of control of their parents or guardians, and cases asking the court to remove age-related legal restrictions on a young person (called removing disabilities of nonage).

Even in these cases where upfront payment is normally required, you might not have to pay right away. If you file paperwork showing you can't afford the costs (called an affidavit of substantial hardship) and the court agrees, you won't have to pay upfront. The same is true if a government agency is the one filing the case. When payment isn't required upfront, the court can still decide at the end of the case that someone owes fees or costs.

Any fees and costs that are collected get distributed according to state law. If the court can't collect certain costs from a party, the county does not have to cover those unpaid costs itself.

Committee Notes

Comment

Ala.Code 1975, § 12-19-72(2), distributes docket fees collected in civil cases in the district court as follows (until October 1, 1995): “$7.00 to the fair trial tax fund, $59.00 to the state general fund, and $8.00 to the county general fund.” That Code section changes the amounts as of October 1, 1995.

See Ala.Code 1975, §§ 12-15-10 and 12-15-11. Although § 12-15-10 provides that court costs, as well as other costs and expenses, shall be “valid charges … against the county,” this rule provides that uncollected court costs may not be charged to the county.

[Comment amended eff. 5-1-95.]

Comment to Amendment to Rule 26 Effective October 1, 2011

The changes to this rule were mostly technical. The language providing that all fees and court costs in cases in the jurisdiction of the juvenile court shall be assessed only at the conclusion of the cases follows the conclusions stated in two Attorney General Opinions. See Att'y Gen. Op. No. 89-346, dated July 6, 1989, to Hon. Patricia M. Smith, then District Judge, Shelby County (in dependency, childin-need-of-supervision, and delinquency cases in the juvenile court, court costs are not required to be prepaid and are statutorily assessed against the county except when after notice and a hearing the court determines that the parents or persons legally obligated to care for and support the child are able to pay court costs), and Att'y Gen. Op. No. 93-177, dated April 28, 1993, to Hon. George C. Simpson, District Judge, Clay County (the juvenile court may not require advance payment of court costs in custody petitions filed in the juvenile court but may assess costs and expenses of the proceedings as a condition of dismissing the petition).

Comment to Amendment to Rule 26 Effective July 1, 2014

The provision requiring the prepayment of fees and costs in certain cases within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court is to limit meritless filings while preserving access to the court system. Because certified-mail fees must be paid prior to service by this method, this rule prevents the waiver of prepayment of those fees.

Note from the reporter of decisions: The order amending effective October 1, 2011, Rule 1, Rule 2, Rule 3, Rule 5, Rule 6, Rule 8, Rule 9, Rule 12, Rule 13, Rule 14, Rule 15, Rule 15.1, Rule 17, Rule 18, Rule 20, Rule 23, Rule 24, Rule 25, Rule 26, Rule 28, and Rule 31 and adopting effective October 1, 2011, Rule 8.1 and the Comment to Amendment to Rule 1 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 2 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 3 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 5 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 6 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 8 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Adoption of Rule 8.1 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 9 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 12 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 13 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 14 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 15 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 15.1 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 17 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 18 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 20 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 23 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 24 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 25 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 26 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 28 Effective October 1, 2011; and the Comment to Amendment to Rule 31 Effective October 1, 2011, is published in that volume of Alabama Reporter that contains Alabama cases from ___ So. 3d.

Note from the reporter of decisions: The order amending Rule 1, Rule 2, Rule 3, Rule 5, Rule 5.1, Rule 6, Rule 8, Rule 8.1, Rule 12, Rule 13, Rule 14, Rule 15, Rule 18, Rule 20, Rule 24, Rule 26, Rule 28, and Rule 31 effective July 1, 2014, is published in that volume of Alabama Reporter that contains Alabama cases from ___ So. 3d.

← Previous Rule 25: Findings and orders. Next → Rule 27: Modification. [Rescinded.]

This Rule Set

View All Ala. R. Juv. P. Rules

Last updated: September 2026

Report an error